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Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Symposium: Top GOP Strategists on Hillary
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 4:35 PM


I had a chance to catch up with three top GOP strategists to get their take on Hillary's performance last night ...

Terry Nelson, who has served as political director for Bush/Cheney '04, as well as campaign manager for John McCain, believes Hillary's front-runner status may be a burden because it means she is essentially in a "prevent defense":

Hillary has a classic front-runners dilemma: how does she avoid messing up a good thing?  That is the reason she is not answering important questions on issues like Social Security reform and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants.  In the dynamic of the campaign, she knows the answers on these issues for the primary voters is different than for general election voters, which puts her in a terrible bind.  Either way, it will harm her campaign. 
Republican Strategist Dan Hazelwood believes Hillary's failure to successfully answer the question regarding illegal aliens receiving driver's licenses just might have legs today, as well as other long-term implications:

This will be remembered as the moment where the flawless campaign could not protect Hillary from herself. This not only revealed her deep liberal roots, but also her evasiveness when caught making a flub. The really critical part is it just made Drivers Licenses for illegal aliens a pivotal issue in next year’s general election. Just as they have in the past two Presidential elections the Democrats are looking at a nominee who is fully capable of handing the election back to the Republicans. Thank you.

And Glen Bolger, one of the Republican Party's leading political strategists and pollsters, believes Hillary's slickness last night may remind voters of some the negative qualities of her prevaricating husband:

This is what to expect out of a Clinton campaign -- and another Clinton White House -- refusal to answer difficult questions.  She'll say one thing to one group, and then carefully nuance an answer that's slightly different to a different group.  It does highlight the issues the Democrats are afraid of, however, and they are certainly afraid of the impact their support for giving government benefits, like a drivers license, to illegal immigrants.

As you can see, it's clear that Hillary's front-runner status is perceived as being both a blessing and a curse.  There also appears to be a consensus that Hillary stumbled last night, and may be in danger of allowing a negative narrative (that she is less than truthful, and avoids answering tough questions) to take root ...


View in ascending order View in descending order
Rogue writes: Wednesday, October, 31, 2007 4:48 PM
uhh...
"and may be in danger of allowing a negative narrative (that she is less than truthful, and avoids answering tough questions) to emerge ..." to emerge? You mean no longer be able to be hidden by the whitewashing liberal media.
BG writes: Wednesday, October, 31, 2007 7:22 PM
Speed Bump more to come
The debate was a speed bump for Hillary, a rather bad one. It showed the line of attack that will be used for the next couple of months.

Hillary triangulates and can be called on it.

Hillary fogs the issues and is evasive. Why trust anything she says? No trust, not sale.

Hillary can't beat the Republicans.

Hillary can not use the flipflop argument against the Republican nominee as she has taking numerous positions on several issues and it is one tape.
Pasadena Phil writes: Wednesday, October, 31, 2007 9:12 PM
Hillary doesn't have to do well
in these debates. Her nomination is a done deal. The Republicans should be focusing on their own gaffes, and their are some doozies, because they are setting themselves up of some very embarrassing moments later. Particularly Rudy and his pro-sanctuary cities and his defense of corporations hiring illegals in a speech yesterday. That was worse than what his Democratic doppleganger did in the debate.
Virginia Patriot writes: Wednesday, October, 31, 2007 10:34 PM
Hillary Will Win
If the Stupid Party nominates Rudy. He is the one GOP candidate she could beat. A third party run would be inevitable.
A ham sandwich with a conservative agenda could beat Hillary. A liberal Republican will not.
Tazzmax writes: Wednesday, October, 31, 2007 11:52 PM
A leopard
can't change its' spots.

Pols like Rudy, Mitt, McCain, and Huckster are arrogant and think people will forget all their lying and pandering,.....what a sorry lot to choose from,....and the "RATS" are even worse!

The only decent candidates are Tancredo and Hunter!....Fred is out because of his ties to CFR!
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